The Last of the Gentlemen: An Interview with Ossie Wheatley (Part 2)

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We begin this episode of the podcast by talking about Ossie's best first class bowling figures, quickly moving on to his nickname.

We talk about the nature of County cricket in the era that Ossie played including the extensive travelling that players had to undertake during a first class season.

Tony Lewis was heir apparent to the captaincy.  Ossie talks about him before we launch into his memories of the 1969 Championship winning season.  As well as his exploits Ossie provides us with a pen picture of the 13 man squad that brought the trophy back to Wales for the second time.

Ossie felt the record he held at Cambridge University, taking 80 wickets in a season was one of his outstanding achievements.  He then talks about some of his memories of the period in which he played including PeterMay, Fred Trueman, Brian Statham and Frank Tyson.  Ossie talks with pride about his economy rate in first class cricket and how, for him, putting pressure on batsmen is a key element to bowling which he feels has been taken out of the modern game.

We talk about what he regards as his best performance on a cricket field and the performances of others that made an impact on him.  Ossie talks about the changes in cricket equipment that have impacted on the game.

He finishes with his final reflections on his playing career and the nature of the professional game.